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Havana Maps & Attractions Guide
Havana maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Havana
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Havana
Attractions - Things to do
1. Playas del Este
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What is it? Twenty-five minutes east of Havana are the
Playas del Este, a chain of sandy beaches stretching for six miles
(10km) between Bacuranao and Guanabo. At weekends they are
generally packed with Cubans escaping the city. There are a few
tourist hotels lining the coast, but other than that there are
limited facilities. If needing an escape from the city the beaches
make a good day trip, however those expecting pristine tropical
island beaches might be disappointed.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City)
Calle Tacón, Plaza de Armas, Habana Vieja
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What is it? The stately Baroque residence of Cuba's
colonial governors and former Presidential Palace, the Palace of
the Captains General built in 1791, stands as an impressive sight
on the Plaza de Armas and is now the repository for the city's
museum collections. The museum's displays and exhibits tell the
tale of Havana, from its founding to the present day, including
rooms devoted to the Cuban wars for national independence. The
colourful Hall of Flags contains the original Cuban flag as well as
a number of others used by the Spanish colonial government. There
are also exhibits relating to archaeology, folklore and weaponry,
and an art collection that includes porcelain, paintings and
furniture of historic value and great
beauty.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 6pm
Phone: |
3. Cigar factories
Partagas Factory: Calle Industria 520, Centro
Habana
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What is it? Even non-smokers have to agree that a visit
to Cuba would not be complete without investigating the island's
most famous export, cigars. The art of cigar-making in Cuba is old
and traditional, and three main factories in Havana offer tours for
visitors to see cigars still rolled by hand. In the oldest factory,
Partagas founded in 1827, traditionally a reader is employed to
keep workers entertained while they fashion the famous cigars.
Havana's other cigar factories are La Corona and the lesser-visited
Romeo y Julieta. There are shops attached to the factories where
cigars can be purchased. Visitors are advised not to buy cigars
from people off the street as these are usually rolled banana
leaves fashioned into cigar look-alikes and the sellers are
persistent hustlers.
Hours of Operation: Partagas tours are Monday to Friday from 9am to
2pm
Phone:Partagas: (0)7 862 4604 |
4. Plaza de la Revolución
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What is it? Dominated by the imposing José Martí
Memorial, the gigantic square has seen numerous political rallies,
and the podium in front of the memorial is where important
political figures like Fidel Castro have addressed more than a
million Cubans on important occasions, such as 1 May and 26 July
each year. At the foot of the memorial is a museum dedicated to
José Martí, a national hero who would certainly have become Cuba's
first president had he survived the Second War of Independence in
1895. It is possible to take the elevator to the top of the 138ft
(42m) memorial, the highest structure in the city. Located behind
the memorial are the closely guarded offices of Castro. Opposite
the memorial on the far side of the square is the much-photographed
Che Guevara image with the slogan Hasta la Victoria
Siempre (Forever Onwards Towards Victory) that identifies
the Ministry of the Interior building.
Hours of Operation: Memorial: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to
5pm
Phone:Memorial: (0)7 592 347 |
5. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Arte Cubano: Calle Trocadero between Agramonte and Av de
las Misiones; Arte Universal: Calle San Rafael between Agramonte
and Av de las Misiones, Centro Habana
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What is it? The modern Bellas Artes Museum is split into
two buildings housing International and Cuban art. The Colección de
Arte Universal covers everything from ancient Greek artefacts and
Latin American pieces to art by French, Dutch and Italian painters.
The Colección de Arte Cubano is also outstanding and covers works
from the 16th to the 20th centuries by prominent Cuban
artists.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to
2pm
Phone:(0)7 861 3858 |
6. Museo de la Revolución
Calle Refugio, between Calle Agramonte and Av de las
Misiones, Centro Habana
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What is it? Formerly the Presidential Palace and
headquarters of the Cuban government, the impressive building now
houses documents, photographs and artefacts pertaining to the Cuban
Revolution and provides an excellent introduction to, and
understanding of, Cuba's history and its struggle for independence.
Prepare to spend a few hours wandering from room to room as the
story unfolds from Spanish colonial times to the present day. In
front of the museum entrance stands a watchtower that was part of
the old city walls, as well as a tank used by Fidel Castro during
the battle of the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Behind the museum is the
glass-encased yacht, the 'Granma', which brought 82
revolutionaries, including Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, from
Mexico to set the 1956 Revolution in
motion.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 5pm
Phone:(0)7 862 4093 |
7. Montemar Natural Park
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What is it? Cuba is developing its eco-tourism potential,
and one of the prime spots for getting back to nature is at the
Montemar Natural Park on the Zapata Peninsula in the province of
Matanzas (about 75 miles/120km from Havana). The peninsula is one
of the largest swamps in the Caribbean, and its vast area includes
forests, marshes, crystal clear lagoons and canals. Its exuberant
flora, including more than 900 species of plants (115 of them
endemic to Cuba) is complemented by its rich fauna, consisting of
160 bird species and 12 types of animal, including crocodiles. One
of the park's many features is the Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure
Lagoon), a fresh water reservoir inhabited by golden trout. In the
midst of the lagoon is a reproduction Taino village with its houses
built on pillars. There are nature trails, a bird watching centre,
and the largest flooded cave in Cuba. There is also a scuba centre,
crocodile farm and several restaurants.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
8. Capitolio Nacional
Paseo de Marti, Centro Habana
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What is it? One of Havana's grandest pieces of
architecture, the Capitolio is an important landmark and one of
Centro Habana's major sights. Resembling the US Capitol in
Washington, DC, the monumental stone stairway leads to the vast
domed hall from where tours will take visitors beyond the doors to
elaborately decorated chambers that once housed the seat of Cuban
Congress. Today it is home to the National Library and Academy of
Sciences, and many of its rooms are still used for state events.
Directly beneath the dome lies an imitation 24-carat diamond set
into the marble floor, from where all highway distances between
Havana and all sites in Cuba are measured.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 6pm
Phone:(0)7 863 7861 |
9. Habana Vieja
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What is it? This historic section of Cuba's capital was
founded in 1519 and for centuries was an important naval port of
colonial Spain. Being in such a strategic position the city was
targeted by pirates and was fought over on numerous occasions and
the ruins of the defensive walls that surrounded the city can still
be seen. The Old City now also contains museums, hotels,
restaurants and shops lining the original cobble-stoned streets.
Surrounding the picturesque squares (plazas) are beautiful restored
colonial buildings with grand facades, and striking churches that
form a magnificent setting for the late afternoon chess and domino
games and salsa music. Plaza de Armas was the seat of power in Cuba
for 400 years, from where the Spanish Captain's General, US
military governors and Cuban president were based, and today is
home to an interesting book market. During the years of Prohibition
in the United States, Habana Vieja turned into a playground for
Americans who flocked here for the cheap liquor, gambling,
prostitution and flamboyant lifestyle. One of the district's most
famous bars is La Bodeguita Del Medio, which was the favoured haunt
of legendary US writer, Ernest Hemingway.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
Havana Holidays guide
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Transport -Cubans rely heavily on an unreliable bus
system that is cheap, but overcrowded and slow with long queues and
inconsistent routes and schedules.
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